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Dearest Mother,

I write this tonight by the dying embers of our campfire. Today's march has brought us to the edge of town, Gettysburg. A small creek runs near the camp, Rock Creek. To the west of camp lies a small ridge of land, leading south of the town, I pray the name, Cemetery Ridge is not an omen for us. We are told that Lee's Army of the Northern Virginians is off to the west by only a few miles.

General Meade is well in command now, he has been riding among the troops tonight--probably trying to make sure of his thoughts. He has changed some of our Captains of the Cavalry to be Generals. These men, fresh from the point will lead us tomorrow...Farnsworth, Merritt and Custer. Orders are for us to make a threat to Lee's southern lines of communication and draw the rebs down to Monocacy. We are to have fortified positions along Pipe creek and await their charges. Reynolds and Buford are to hold above the town and Sykes' V Corps will move to Hanover. Slocum and the XII Corp move to Emmitsburg and the rest will move to headquarters at Taneytown. At least these are the orders for tomorrow, July 1.

Mother, I do not know what the day will bring. I only know I am ready to fight for our Union. Providence has given us a Fine Country and we must stay together. The embers die down now, and the darkness is illuminated only by the heat lightening coming from the west. I will sleep now, dear mother.

Your son

Jeremiah Forster

July 1, 1863 9 AM

Early this morning, Longstreet and Lee move by horseback down the Chambersburg Pike. The rains of the past days have given way to a bright sunshine that promises summer heat. As they move towards Gettysburg, Lee hears the distant rumble of artillery. Giving Traveler a kick, he leaves Longstreet behind and hurries to the battle.

Several miles ahead of Lee, Major General Henry Heth moves slowly down the Chambersburg Pike. He met a Union cavalry picket west of Gettysburg before nine and quickly drove them in slowly as the horsement retreated the zing of bullets came out of a wood on the slope of a low hill behind. "That's all right", called Heth, "only some Pennsylvania Militia". He then sent two brigades to clear the way for his full column. They swung forward carelessly and as they reached the edge of the wood, the fire rose to surprising crescendo. Out of the underbrush onto their flank burst a storm of men with bayonets low and all in a line--it was the IRON BRIGADE. The best known of the Army of the Potomac, they insisted on wearing the same old black hats as when first mustered into the service. Upon seeing them, the Confederates knew they were facing Buford's cavalry.

The Union now pressed the attack into the late morning.